October 12 at HANC: The Neighborhood Speaks About the McDonald's Site Purchase Offer

HANC's monthly (except August) general membership meeting is held downstairs at the Park Branch Library, 1833 Page Street (between Cole and Shrader) on the second Thursday of the month, beginning at 7 pm.Our meetinngs are open to the public and free to attend.

Approximately one month later, on September 8, the Chronicle reported that an agreement had been reached, with unnamed sources saying that the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) would pay about $10 million for the 38,000-square foot site. Again, a story appeared in Hoodline the following day (http://www.hoodline.com/2017/09/city-reaches-deal-to-buy-upper-haight-mcdonald-s). [We are providing links to Hoodline articles because the Chronicle limits access to its articles for non-subscribers.]

So far, HANC has not been able to confirm the purchase with either MOHCD or with the City’s Real Estate Division, which is responsible for the acquisition of real property acquired for City purposes, and also completes market value appraisals or analyses of real property considered for City development or acquisition. Although we have not been able to confirm the acquisition, we want to help the neighborhood contribute its voice to how the project should be developed. At our October meeting, we plan to get the community’s input and develop a proposal or guidelines to present to City officials. We are inviting City officials to our November meeting, to present the proposal or guidelines we develop at the October meeting.

Here are some of our thoughts:

Can the site be put to some use between purchase and the start of construction, perhaps as a navigation center?

Can a portion of the housing be reserved for neighborhood residents who need a break on their housing costs?

Can the income levels to qualify for affordable housing be based on neighborhood income instead of area income?

Can there be space included for the Homeless Youth Alliance?

Can there be a substantial number of family units (2 bedrooms or more)?

Will this be a rental project or units for sale?

If for sale, how can homeowners’ dues be limited so that the units don’t become unaffordable?

Can the project include supportive services, and if so, what will they be?

We want to hear your thoughts. Please join us on Thursday, October 12, at 7 pm at the Park Branch Library, 1833 Page Street, and bring your friends and neighbors.